Mini web server cabinet

this one’s from robert who tipped me on his web server cabinet project.

“it’s a file & web-server that i have built to fit into an ikea galant effektiv cabinet. i wanted a server in the office but i couldn’t stand to have another computer around buzzing all day long. so that’s how i came up with the idea of hiding the server in one of our ikea galant cabinets we already have in our office.

it’s not really a hack but i think it’s a pretty cool and unusual way to use a galant cabinet.”

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Jules IKEAHacker "I am Jules, the engine behind IKEAHackers and the one who keeps this site up and running. My mission is to capture all the wonderful, inspiring, clever hacks and ideas for our much loved IKEA items".

4 Responses to Mini web server cabinet

The back of the cabinet is solid enough to take enough big holes to keep the temperature at sensible levels (without fans). I have 6 devices in a half height cabinet and that is fine. Holes in the back (especially at towards the top) are better, after all, hot air rises and they provide good cable access too.

Also, I found that one of the old Ikea slatted wooden shoe racks fits inside so I have two ventilated shelves for “stuff”. Mine contains a switch, router, modem, phone base station, NAS etc.

Heat is can be a killer on computer parts. Even if the CPU is not overheating, Hot Hard Drives Fail.

I suggest drilling a perforation in the bottom of the cabinet, or better yet, cut a hole and put a fine wire mesh filter over the hole. Then cut a large-ish hole in the top back to allow some natural circulation – heat rises, ya know?

If you want to go the industrial strength route, you could get a 120MM fan, mount it onto the aforementioned vent hole in the base. To slow the speed of the fan, you could do a 5-volt or 7-volt fan mod to slow the rotation and decrease the fan noise. With the wire mesh filter in place your cabinet will trap less dust.

I use the wire mesh filters extensively on my home system, and only the really finer grains of dust seem to get through.

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